Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1887-09-29
old WAYS AND TIMES.

1t was fast deepening twilight of q
,samzner's eve, and amid the iostling
;zzurTying crowd in the busiest street OF
eoae of our great cities, young girl
BIAS frurrying home.
On she went, until turning q corner,
sine entered IL quiet-looking street,
EyhET-e lived what might be called the
respectable poor.
Pausing before plain modest little
cottage, she mounted the steps and
entered.
Stepping across the entry, she opened
u second door which led into small
gana poorly but neatly furnished room.
a pale pleasant-faced woman looked
Grs from the book she held in her
hand
well, Nellie, what luck to-day?"
''Oh, it's the same old cry; no one
rwan1s my services. But we must keeI
mp good courage. | feel as though
tEsaere must be better days in store
Cor lis. And now | must get some tea.
Poor Nellie" sighed the mother
at is too bad after you have been out
san day and coming home tired, to &C
right TO work. What pity we had to
dismiss Maggie!"
AAOh, never mind, mother. [ am
Bell and strong; and somehow | fee
- my bones something is going tc
Gzrn mp, and we'll plunge suddenly
FEack into the old ways and times" and
zyifh n light laugh she left the room tc
prepare their evening meal.
Here we will leave them for awhile
a Ar1~ olin Of
nEe Mrs Merle-Nellie's mother
der- In early life she formed the &C
quaintance of young man in hel
Afathers employ. From the first the
ByE1rInest ties of affection seemed tc
spring up between them, which soor
ETrened into the purest love.
But, alas! he was poor, and her faith
Rr would not listen to such a marriage
In his mind the poor clerk was ne
match for the rich bankers daughter
EsEsa he was forbidden the house. A
1a.s& Ghe young man went far away tt
&sae LAND of gold" to seek his fortune
2sRt before he left he met Elsie, ant
zhpy promised to be faithful.
For" said Elsie, IF you were no
gsoor, papa would have no objection;
80 oEr marriage. So if you prosper
anaa come back to me all will be well
Eur i will be waiting for you"
But time passed on and no tiding
reached her of the absent one. Sh,
gFrote but received no reply. He,
Gather told her he might be dead, acci
alents of fatal kind happen very Otter
III the II mes,
a'But, said Elsie, ''he promised tc
write as soon as he reached his desti
Eaation.'
+'Oh, well, he might have neglected
30 do So"
But Elsie would not believe him dead
gaDr faithless.
Time passed, and she had many
szators for her hand, but to all sht
=sgzrned deaf ear, and finally gained
tahe name of being cold and unap
zproachable.
1t was in the great financial crash
aDf Is, when so many men counted
Zlaeir thousands one day and were pen
mIless the next, that her father called
liner TO his study one night
In a few moments she came, very
beautiful as she stood before him robe(
I'm the richest of silk. Yes. she wa
Beautiful, and it was not without !;
Tsang he noticed the pale, almost ethe
rial beauty of her face.
With wave of the hand he mo
E5Dned her TO be seated.
Ii was some minutes before he spoke
He then said:
Al saw Harvey Merle to-day; yol
know how earnestly he has sought fo1
srDgr hand He still presses his suit
and wished me to nave one more in
1sTyiew with you. Oh, my daughter
yDn do not know what Joy it would
give me to see you the wife of Harve,
Merle And | again entreat you t.
10 would make me the happi est MAJ
aave- What say you, my child?"
Elsie arose from where she had beer
sitting, silent and motionless, anC
Aiaroying her arms around her father
rack. sobbed:
-,Dh. papa! why will you torture M
VsTth such proposals? You know
kare nothing for Harvey Merle. He i
- good man, and | respect him greatly
ISM my husband-the idea. Why, h
rs Did enough 10 be my father. | dt
really believe, papa, he is nearly 4
sssa as you, are, and her blue eve
FLASHED indignantly.
1he old man looked up appealingly
~ADh. my child, if YOU only knew
vEsa<at depended on your answer. Go,
A0osgs | would have spared you TIL
gnain OF hearing the rest of the story
Eaz6 l must tell the whole.
DO you know, Elsie, that tonight
ama penniless man, and that the yer,
sAxess and jewels you have on are no
zgDnr own? Then listen to me- To
@asay / had private interview witt
Harvey Merle. He is the only on
r1s2ssa knows this save myself. To-n1o-